I knit this purse for my sister's birthday & shipped it out this morning. This purse is from the Rick Rack Purse (http://www.knitpicks.com/books/itemid_50460/books_display.aspx) pattern from Knit Picks (http://www.knitpicks.com/homepage.aspx). I used 1 hank each of Knit Picks Sierra (http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/yarn_display.aspx?itemid=5420129) in Bud and Grape. I knitted an i-cord to go through the eyelets instead of using ribbon or rick rack. I finished knitting the purse last weekend, felted it twice this past week and put the lining in it last night.

Before felting
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/sarajbc/Knitting%20Projects/hillsrickrackb4felt.jpg

After Felting
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/sarajbc/Knitting%20Projects/hillsrickrackfinished.jpg

The pattern lets the bag stand on it's own
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/sarajbc/Knitting%20Projects/hillsrickrackstanding.jpg

After lining
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/sarajbc/Knitting%20Projects/hillsrickracklined.jpg

I love the pattern - it was super simple and QUICK! The only think I'll change on the next one (for my mom) is to knit the handles as one piece instead of having to join them in the middle (that didn't work out well for me).

Edited on 6/26 to change title

Celine

05-22-2006, 02:47 PM

The bag came out just beautiful. :cheering: What a big difference in the "before" and "after" felting. I love it. The lining is perfect too!!

blueeyes28

05-22-2006, 02:58 PM

That is absolutely beautiful!!!

Jan in CA

05-22-2006, 03:04 PM

Love that lining! That purse is adorable!

sunnyreflections

05-22-2006, 04:05 PM

Love it! Just curious, did you use a sewing machine to put the liner in? Did you use a pattern to sew the liner? I felted a purse for my mom and did a liner, but that part was way harder then knitting the purse! :lol: I would love an easier way to do a liner.

-Alison

AnreeAce

05-22-2006, 04:06 PM

:heart:

Too cool! Those colors really work well together!

sara_jayne

05-22-2006, 04:46 PM

Thanks everyone! ;)

The liner was a pain to do - this was my first one. Now that I figured it out it will be easier. I did it all by hand. I bought one of the little hand held sewing machines and that kinda worked, but I had to finish it by hand. I was planning on attaching it by hand anyway, which I did.

I used this link (http://freddyknits.blogspot.com/2005/03/every-bag-has-purple-lining.html) to get the basic idea of how to do it. It certinaly isn't pretty - but it is the inside of the bag and the next one will be better. The most time consuming part was stitching it to the bag (I went around twice) but it was WELL worth it!

tigerelsker

05-22-2006, 07:02 PM

I love that purse. Once I venture into new things other than rectangles :) I think I'll try that one.

BTW: I love your CD.

newamy

05-22-2006, 07:44 PM

I love the purple on the outside and the purple on the inside. I saw that pattern... I'll have to put it on my list of possible things to do....

Edited to add that I think the lining looks good. They are eaier with a sewing machine however. The hand stitiching is time consuming too.

Good job.

jamadian75

05-22-2006, 08:42 PM

I think the lining looks good. They are eaier with a sewing machine however. The hand stitiching is time consuming too.

Good job.

(Does machine stitching work well through felted fabric? I'm about to try this and would like to know about any pitfalls.

BEAUTIFUL BAG sara_jayne!! What a great gift!

Danielle

05-22-2006, 09:35 PM

That is so cute!! You did a great job! :thumbsup: I need to add that pattern to my list!

sara_jayne

05-22-2006, 10:00 PM

Thanks everyone!! I can't stress how super super simple the pattern is - it only took me about 5 hours (and that was WITH figuring out the pattern - I'm kinda slow sometimes :rollseyes: !).

I think the lining looks good. They are eaiser with a sewing machine however. The hand stitiching is time consuming too.

(Does machine stitching work well through felted fabric? I'm about to try this and would like to know about any pitfalls.

I wonder about this too. I couldn't justify buying a sewing machine and I have no where to put it....so I went with the hand sewing. I do wonder how it would look since it would knit onto the front of the bag.

gardenmommy

05-22-2006, 10:08 PM

That is so cute! It has the potential for so many color combinations!

newamy

05-23-2006, 09:02 AM

(Does machine stitching work well through felted fabric? I'm about to try this and would like to know about any pitfalls.

The machine is helpful in sewing the lining itself. If you know how to sew and use a machine it's pretty easy. However, the lining still needs to be hand stitched in to attach to the bag. If one is willing to take the time and does not have or know how to use a sewing machine a lining could be sewn all in hand stitches. But hand stitches need to be small and even. --I'm not so great at that. Sewing it on a machine is way easier.

I have wondered about using a machine to actually attach a lining- but the knitted fabric is so thick I know my machine wouldn't handle it. Perhaps one of the new fangled ones could. Or If a bag was knitted from a very fine guage yarn so the resuting fabric was thin.

Good luck.

feministmama

05-23-2006, 10:40 AM

Oh how cute is that????? :heart:

knit-a-holic

05-23-2006, 11:02 AM

Too cute!!! :heart:

rebecca

05-23-2006, 05:02 PM

:D I LOVE your bag!! Your sister is going to LOVE it, too!!! You are a great sister ;)

Pixywhispers

05-23-2006, 06:13 PM

So pretty!

nanonette

05-23-2006, 07:46 PM

So cute!! And I love the lining! It really adds a nice touch!! :inlove: :thumbsup:

kemp

05-24-2006, 09:30 AM

Tooooooooooooooooooo cute! It turned out perfect!

sara_jayne

05-24-2006, 09:31 AM

Thanks everyone! :blush:

Toast King

05-24-2006, 11:23 AM

Those colours go great together - it looks gorgeous! :heart: Very professional looking! Has your sister received it yet? She must be thrilled! :cheering:

sara_jayne

06-26-2006, 10:14 PM

I finished another Rick Rack Purse (pattern from Knit Picks - see post on page 1) for my mom & gave it to her on Friday. She LOVED it! :cheering: It made me so happy that she liked it so much!

This one is knit with Knit Picks WOTA in Blue Bonnet and Tulip (double stranded each). I used an i-cord again instead of ribbion or rick rack....but I forgot to knit it until AFTER I'd felted the bag :rollseyes: .....but the bag needed felted more anyway so it didn't matter. It is lined with some random fabric from JoAnn's and all done by hand as I don't have a sewing machine.

I did modify the pattern as I wanted to this time - I knit the handles from one side to the other (instead of joining the handles in the middle. Joining it when it was all finished looked wonky so I just covered it with extra yarn and it looked great felted.

Before Felted.....
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/sarajbc/Knitting%20Projects/MomsRickRackb4felting.jpg